Spring Cleaning? Think Twice Before Tossing These Items

We’re sure you’ve donated to an organization before. But what about the unique items that organizations need? We’re not talking the usual canned food donations to your local food drive, here—although that’s great. We’re talking about items you may not have ever considered donating because you didn’t know people would use them.

Just remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. So think twice before throwing out these or other household items that might be worth donating.

Special Occasions Mean High Prices
It’s a special occasion that you want to be perfect. And these days the costs pile up. You pay for the dress or tux, shoes, accessories and more. The worst part? After the occasion, the clothes sit in your closet collecting dust.

With such high prices, the reality is that many people can’t afford to buy special occasion clothing. But you can help by donating yours after you’ve worn them. There are tons of organizations that will distribute your dresses or special occasion clothing. So clean out the closet clutter and make somebody else’s special day even more special.

Don’t Forget About Fluffy
Helping people in need is a great gesture. But there are plenty of animals that need help, too. Many animal lovers donate time or money to humane societies. That’s a great way to help, but there are more ways to help out.

There are plenty of nonprofit organizations that need items like leashes, food/water dishes and grooming products. If you upgraded or have old items lying around in your house that remain unused, consider donating them so that pets can have the proper care they need.

Look Good, Feel Good—Interview Help
You may donate all of your everyday clothes that you’ve outgrown, but what about professional clothes? These items could include suits for men and women, and even makeup and jewelry for women. These items aren’t normally considered for donation, but could help land somebody a job.

Organizations like dressforsuccess.org help people in need achieve success. If you’ve recently changed sizes or updated your wardrobe, consider donating your professional clothes to charity. Also, many organizations will accept unopened makeup. If you’ve have unused samples or want to donate new products, many organizations would love to have the donations to makeover somebody who doesn’t currently own makeup.

The Gift of Music
When you think of donations, you think of necessities. But there are other things that people would love to have and can’t afford. Consider giving the gift of music.

There are organizations that loan musical instruments to students that can’t afford them so that they can explore their musical talents. Above all, a musical instrument could provide joy to somebody in need. Before you throw out that old guitar or keyboard collecting dust, consider giving it away.